Remember, an ion is an element that has gained or lost
at least one electron and so has an electrical charge. The electrical charge
is shown with a superscript and must include the + or - symbol. Many ions have
special endings to let us know they have made the change from element to ion.
The chemical and physical properties of ions can be very different from their
elements.

Iron
the element is a hard blue gray metal.
Fe+3 combines with oxygen to make rust, a soft red material that does
not

conduct electricity and is non-magnetic.

Hint: as you work to memorize these, try grouping them
by charge (also called valence). I would put them on color coded flash cards.

Element name

Ion name

Charge

Ion symbol

chlorine

chloride

-1

Cl-1

hydrogen

hydrogen

+1

H+1

oxygen

oxide

-2

O-2

sodium

sodium

+1

Na+1

neon

--

0

Ne

carbon

carbon

+4

C+4

magnesium

magnesium

+2

Mg+2

calcium

calcium

+2

Ca+2

fluorine

fluoride

-1

F-1

iron

ferric

+3

Fe+3

copper

cupric

+2

Cu+2

aluminum

aluminum

+3

Al+3

sulfur

sulfide

-2

S-2

potassium

potassium

+1

K+1

bromine

bromide

-1

Br-1

phosphorus

phosphide

-3

P-3

nitrogen

nitride

-3

N-3

helium

--

0

He

silver

silver

+1

Ag+1

cobalt

cobaltous

+2

Co+2

barium

barium

+2

Ba+2

lead

plumbic

+4

Pb+4

iodine

iodide

-1

I-1

zinc

zinc

+2

Zn+2

mercury

mercuric

+2

Hg+2

arsenic

arsenous

+3

As+3

nickel

nickelous

+2

Ni+2

argon

--

0

Ar

silicon

silicon

+4

Si+4

tin

stannic

+4

Sn+4

krypton

--

0

Kr

lithium

lithium

+1

Li+1

boron

boron

+3

B+3

beryllium

beryllium

+2

Be+2

xenon

--

0

Xe

Polyatomic
ions

--

hydroxide

-1

OH-1

--

sulfate

-2

SO4-2

--

nitrate

-1

NO3-1

--

phosphate

-3

PO4-3

--

chromate

-2

CrO4-2

--

chlorate

-1

ClO3-1

--

carbonate

-2

CO3-2

--

acetate

-1

C2H3O2-1

--

ammonium

+1

NH4+1

These ions are our basic vocabulary for Chemistry. We cannot say anything
interesting or talk about reactions or other fun stuff in Chemistry until these
have been memorized. Expect ions quizzes approximately weekly.

that has gained or lost
an electron, and so has an electrical charge. Elements are all neutral or have
zero valence. The chemical and

The superscripts (little numbers above the line) are
the electrical charge.
The subscripts are the numbers of atoms in the ion for
the polyatomic ions.
Anions are negatively charged ions and cations are
positively charged ions.Study your ions early and often. Expect a test
on them about once a week.